How do you clean your quilts? Do you machine wash them or have them dry cleaned? All mine go into the washing machine on the gentle cycle and I use regular detergent and fabric softener. In winter they're tumble dried and in summer dried outside on a shady line.
That's what I do, too. The first time I was a nervous wreck! I was sure my quilt would be ruined. But it was just fine - in fact they get better and softer over the first few washes. Just watch out for colour runs with hand-dyes in particular.
In the machine (top loader), with regular detergent (Seventh Generation Free and Clear). Then the dryer -- no fabric softener. The first time or two I wash a quilt, I use a Color Catcher, especially if I think there is a chance the colors might run. And I remove promptly from the washer, so colors have less chance to bleed onto surrounding areas.
Julia in MN
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Marie Dodge wrote:
Before I use fabric it's hand washed, dried and ironed. I don't want any surprises. Anything that's a really bad bleeder is/was discarded. Most bleeders only need be soaked and rinsed a few times to remove excessive dye. I also pre-wash so I don't get uneven shrinkage. Even fabric given to me is washed and ironed before I use it. In God I trust.
You don't pre-wash to pre-shrink and see if something will bleed or leach dye before use?
Oh, yes, I do pre-wash. I haven't run into anything that bleeds badly, but I do know that some things will continue to bleed a bit for a few washings. Hence, the color catchers.
Julia in MN
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Marie Dodge wrote:
I wash mine in the regular washing machine, too, and dry them in the dryer. I can't put them outside, since we're not allowed to have clotheslines; besides, our brutal sun would probably fade them to nothing in no time flat. If it's a quilt I really value, I wash it with Orvus; otherwise, regular quilts get normal detergent.
That's what I do, too. So far so good...they seem to get better (softer and fluffier) with each wash :)
-Irene
I wash them in my washer and dry them in my dryer. I use a color catcher for the first few times. I do NOT prewash fabric.
Marie, I'm curious as to why you would hand wash your fabric before construction? I could understand if you had a wringer washer, but hand washing?
Cindy
me too! i hate to take the time to wash any size fabric, especially FQ's! and i like my quilts to shrink up a bit after the dryer, they get that "old Quilt feel". Like my Granny's. i only use a color catcher for bright reds and blacks.
amy in CNY
What are "color catchers?"
Have you tried Woolite? It seems to be mild an works well on quilts.
I've just always done it that way the first time. There's less unraveling at the cut ends and I can quickly remove anything leaching dye or whatever bleeds badly. What would happen if you washed one of your quilts and one fabric shrunk more than another? The quilt would be ruined wouldn't it? What is a color catcher? Where do you get it?
I need to try this "color catcher." I've never used it. I've been really pleasantly surprised at the lack of bleeding in fabrics though; even dark red ones. Fabric just must be dyed with a better process than it used to be. Light colored fabrics sometimes I don't pre-wash. I really like the crispness of new fabric. If it's dark at all I do pre-wash just to be sure. So again, I guess it's the universal answer, "It depends!" I just wash my quilts with a very scant amount of mild detergent. I try to dry them outdoors by draping them face down across both strands of the clothesline. Sherry
I love the color catchers. I use them with my regular laundry when I buy something new that is red or dark colored that I'm afraid will bleed all over everything. They work great for that as well as fabric.
D>
I need to try this "color catcher." I've never used it. I've been really pleasantly surprised at the lack of bleeding in fabrics though; even dark red ones. Fabric just must be dyed with a better process than it used to be. Light colored fabrics sometimes I don't pre-wash. I really like the crispness of new fabric. If it's dark at all I do pre-wash just to be sure. So again, I guess it's the universal answer, "It depends!" I just wash my quilts with a very scant amount of mild detergent. I try to dry them outdoors by draping them face down across both strands of the clothesline. Sherry
Mine go in the machine too. Nothing like the scent of freshly-washed cotton! Roberta in D
"Marie Dodge" schrieb im Newsbeitrag news:foqfds$kej$ snipped-for-privacy@aioe.org...
Check the laundry section at the supermarket, there are a couple of brands. (My favorite was the Carbona Dye Magnet, looks like a terry washcloth, could be used up to 50 times, but those are hard to find.) The "new improved" color catchers look like dryer sheets, but no scent of course, and they go in the washer. Roberta in D
"Marie Dodge" schrieb im Newsbeitrag news:forf1e$ho2$ snipped-for-privacy@aioe.org...
I toss quilts in the washing machine with regular detergent at about half the usual amount and on the knit/permanent press cycle with cold water, and then into the dryer on a gentle heat. I don't use color- catchers, but I always pre-wash fabrics. for pre-washing, I get the fabric, the detergent, a sack of quarters, a cheap paperback, and head to the local laundromat. I put the fabric into one of the giant machines since they get a double rinse. Also, with the glass door it's very easy to watch and see if a fabric is bleeding! After the dryer, I use those long, long, long tables to spread out the fabric and very carefully fold it. After the fabric is washed, dried, and properly folded I tuck in a note as to yardage. I almost never have to iron the fabric before use.
Marie Dodge wrote:
Julia in MN
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